Last year’s straw bale construction workshop season started with a huge project: the 5300 SF Eco Learning Center at Ferncliff outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. In this article you can check out some mind-numbing facts of some of the “behind the scenes” numbers that go into building a house. Some of them are truly amazing.

One of the most artistic expressions of a straw bale wall are the niches that are carved into it. I have laid out a step-by-step process for the most common niche I see in straw bale homes: the arch top.

One of the most stunning aspects of a straw bale home is the shape that window and door openings take. The gentle curves flood light across the room and lend a sense of calm and peace to the occupants. These very same curves that bring so much joy and serenity can also drive home owners crazy. That sounds unlikely; however, when the curves are not properly built, they can cause all kinds of problems as the home is finished.

You have likely heard me say this before, but it is worth saying again: keep your plumbing out of your bales. Of course, it’s not as simple as that when it comes to adding plumbing to a straw bale house. There are obviously more details to consider in order to ensure that the straw bale walls are not damaged by water infiltration. The good news is that there are a limited number of locations to consider in terms of potential water damage from plumbing in a straw bale home so managing the installation is easier than you may think. In this article, we will look at the major areas of concern and I’ll show you my preferred solution for each location.

In this post, I will teach you the most up to date and highest quality installation techniques for installing electrical service in your straw bale home. Knowing these techniques is important whether you plan to do the work yourself or hire a subcontractor to do it for you. Chances are that any electrical subcontractor you hire will have very little experience in straw bale installations, and may have never seen the new techniques I have created for simplifying and improving the installation of electrical services in your straw bale house.

I am not one who lives from a place of fear or who likes to offer it as a motivation to others. Personally, I think that is a poor way to live a life or achieve a goal. In fact, my wife has a hand written reminder above her desk that reads “a life motivated by fear is a shadow.” So I’m not going to focus on how bad things are. Instead, I’m hopefully going to inspire you to be part of the solution. My question for you is: can you find connections to “real life?” I know that we all want to live the life of our dreams. The problem is that some of us have blockages that get in the way. I hope you will read more and join the conversation in the comments section.

The efficiency of straw bale homes would be a wonderful thing to share with those living in extreme climates and the existence, or lack there of, of local modern baling machinery should not deter people from making this happen.

If you have an interest in building your own tiny home or your own straw bale home, this is an awesome opportunity for you to learn hands on from an expert. This two-week workshop will cover everything from foundation to plaster and everything in between. Perfect for the tiny home and straw bale enthusiasts alike.

I have 18 bags of 3.5 NHL. They have been stored in the house the entire time and are dry. I paid $50.00 a bag for them and they are 55 pounds each. I will sell all 18 for 450.00 ($25/bag) if some one wants to come get them in Junction City, CA. Please contact me at the email in this blog post for more information.

Some friends of ours who are very involved in the grass roots movement are building their own straw bale house in Australia. They plan on using it as an eco farm stay once it’s completed. They are doing amazing in their build and have created a web site of their progress with some great photos. […]